Influence of the wearable posture correction sensor on head and neck posture: Sitting and standing workstations.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nFlexed head and neck postures are associated with the development of neck pain in the office environment. There is little evidence regarding whether a\xa0wearable posture sensor would improve the head and neck postures of office workers.\n\n\nOBJECTIVE\nThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the wearable posture sensor on the posture and physical demands on the head and neck during office work.\n\n\nMETHODS\nNineteen participants performed a\xa0typing task with and without the wearable sensor in the sitting and standing positions. They were allowed to adjust their workstation during the experiment based on a\xa0psychophysical method. The flexion angles of the head and neck, the gravitational moment on the neck, and the positions of the workstation components were measured.\n\n\nRESULTS\nOn average, participants with the wearable sensor had 8% lower neck flexion angles and 14% lower gravitational moments on the neck than those of participants without the wearable sensor. The effect of the wearable sensor on reducing postural stress of the neck was more significant when using the standing workstation compared to the sitting workstation.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nThe wearable posture sensor could be an effective tool to alleviate the postural stress of the neck in the office setting.